Pupils with additional needs face further wait for purpose-built school accommodation

Parents at Finglas Parochial National School in Dublin have been told building works for two new special classrooms have been delayed again. File picture: Leah Farrell/RollingNews.ie

Children with special educational needs who have spent the past year attending classes for just two hours a day in a local hall face further delays before they can move into purpose-built school accommodation.

Parents at Finglas Parochial National School in Dublin have been told building works for two new special classrooms have been delayed again.

The classes were sanctioned by the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) and the Department of Education in 2025 but have yet to open.

It was hoped the classrooms would open in March, but the project was hit by planning delays.

Parents were advised of a further delay last week, which is understood to relate to external groundworks. It means the classrooms are unlikely to be ready in time for the new school year, affecting 12 students.  

Most of these students, who have additional needs, spent the last year receiving two hours of education a day at a local community hall.

The measure was arranged by the school to help the families as the classes were established.

Some of the children remained with their pre-schools for an additional year due to the delay with the building. Parents previously spoke about how the delays with the project impacted on their children, for whom routine is important, and about how the "constant uncertainty" made it difficult to plan around. 

The pupils technically have ‘school places’ as they are enrolled. However, the use of the local hall was always a temporary measure and is not suitable for the children in the long term.

A spokesperson for the Department of Education confirmed the project would be completed "as early as possible in the new school year", which will be late September or early October. 

"The modular building is installed on site, and internal works to the building are currently being carried out. External site works are taking place in parallel," they said. 

"The assigned project managers are keeping the school authority updated regularly as the project progresses near completion." 

Planning permission was granted in March, and the department and its project manager have "been working to ensure the project gets delivered as quickly as possible", said the spokesperson.

The NCSE, through its local Special Education Needs Organiser, is continuing to engage and support the families and school, including contingency arrangements required before the building works are complete, the spokesperson added.